Meet the Author

The FermentedlyChallenged blog has been retired since the end of October 2016. It has been a great 9 year run. Thanks to all the readers and brewery staff for all your support in the past. I'm living in the Denver metro area and working in the Cable TV industry now. Cheers and enjoy beer responsibly. Follow along on social media - @ChipperDave on Twitter and on Facebook.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Are you a fan of the dark side of craft beer? Ever get the urge for a beer with something extra? Do you want something thick and creamy and loaded with flavor? Then you are probably a fan of Imperial Stouts. Imperial Stouts come in an assortment of style variations, are in general black as night, have at least an 8.0% ABV and are loaded with calories and flavor.

During the Fall, Winter and early Spring months when there is a cold wind blowing, there's nothing better than getting together with friends and sharing a big bottle of a dark, roasted Imperial Stout. The list below shares some of the best available imperial stouts in the Rocky Mountain region.

The following list, in alphabetical order, is a sampling of 12 of the best Imperial Stouts I've found in stores around Colorado. Not all of these Imperial Stouts come from from the region (to be fair) and at least 1 of them are from overseas.

Click on the links below to read a review of each of these outstanding representations of the Imperial Stout style. You too might just fall in love with one of these. Embrace the dark side.The Top 12 Imperial Stouts List

"An intensely flavored, big, dark ale. Roasty, fruity, and bittersweet, with a noticeable alcohol presence. Dark fruit flavors meld with roasty, burnt, or almost tar-like sensations. Like a black barleywine with every dimension of flavor coming into play. Variations exist, with English and American interpretations (predictably, the American versions have more bitterness, roasted character, and finishing hops, while the English varieties reflect a more complex specialty malt character and a more forward ester profile)."

Don't see your favorite Imperial Stout listed here? There are a lot of good ones available across the USA. Chances are your favorite local brewery makes one or is thinking of making one. Encourage them to make more!

Follow-Up Notes: In the months and years following the original posting of this article, I've reviewed even more remarkable Imperial Stouts. Here are several more beer reviews of beers in this style.